Final answer:
The national government under the Articles of Confederation lacked key powers such as the authority to impose taxes and raise an army or navy, which proved ineffectual for maintaining national security and economic stability.
Step-by-step explanation:
Key Powers Lacking Under the Articles of Confederation
Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government lacked many crucial powers necessary for effective governance. One of the most significant shortcomings was the inability to impose taxes. This limitation severely hampered the government's ability to raise funds for national needs. Another critical power that was absent was the authority to raise an army or navy. Due to the states' fear of a centralized tyrannical government, they did not grant the national government the power to maintain a standing military force, relying instead on the states to contribute soldiers, an unreliable method at best. Additionally, the government could not regulate interstate or international commerce, a function vital for the economic stability and growth of the new nation.
These restrictions on the central government created practical problems, as witnessed during events like Shays' Rebellion and were crucial reasons leading to the Constitutional Convention that eventually drafted a new constitution with a more robust federal government structure.